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arXiv · 1012.4043

Stereoscopic visualization in curved spacetime: seeing deep inside a black hole

Andrew J. S. Hamilton·Gavin Polhemus
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Abstract

Stereoscopic visualization adds an additional dimension to the viewer's experience, giving them a sense of distance. In a general relativistic visualization, distance can be measured in a variety of ways. We argue that the affine distance, which matches the usual notion of distance in flat spacetime, is a natural distance to use in curved spacetime. As an example, we apply affine distance to the visualization of the interior of a black hole. Affine distance is not the distance perceived with normal binocular vision in curved spacetime. However, the failure of binocular vision is simply a limitation of animals who have evolved in flat spacetime, not a fundamental obstacle to depth perception in curved spacetime. Trinocular vision would provide superior depth perception.

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Andrew J. S. Hamilton, Gavin Polhemus. 2010-12-18. Stereoscopic visualization in curved spacetime: seeing deep inside a black hole. https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630%2F12%2F12%2F123027

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